Distance-Regular Shilla Graphs with b₂ = c₂

Abstract

A Shilla graph is defined as a distance-regular graph of diameter 3 with second eigen-value θ₁ equal to a₃. For a Shilla graph, let us put a = a₃ and b = k/a. It is proved in this paper that a Shilla graph with b₂ = c₂ and noninteger eigenvalues has the following intersection array:

$$\left\{ {\frac{{{b^2}\left( {b - 1} \right)}}{2},\frac{{\left( {b - 1} \right)\left( {{b^2} - b + 2} \right)}}{2},\frac{{b\left( {b - 1} \right)}}{4};1,\frac{{b\left( {b - 1} \right)}}{4},\frac{{b{{\left( {b - 1} \right)}^2}}}{2}} \right\}$$

If Γ is a Q-polynomial Shilla graph with b₂ = c₂ and b = 2r, then the graph Γ has intersection array

$$\left\{ {2tr\left( {2r + 1} \right),\left( {2r + 1} \right)\left( {2rt + t + 1} \right),r\left( {r + t} \right);1,r\left( {r + t} \right),t\left( {4{r^2} - 1} \right)} \right\}$$

and, for any vertex u in Γ, the subgraph Γ₃(u) is an antipodal distance-regular graph with intersection array

$$\left\{ {t\left( {2r + 1} \right),\left( {2r - 1} \right)\left( {t + 1} \right),1;1,t + 1,t\left( {2r + 1} \right)} \right\}$$

The Shilla graphs with b₂ = c₂ and b = 4 are also classified in the paper.